Electrical impulse device



Sept. 16, 1952 M. E. MILLER ELECTRICAL IMPULSE DEVICE Filed Oct. 11, 1950 Patented Sept. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL IMPULSE DEVICE Monroe E. Miller, Washington, D. C.

Application October 11, 1950, Serial No. 189,607

Claims.

This invention relates to devices by means of which electrical impulses are used for controlling, actuating or otherwise influencing a medium for the translation of the impulses, such as for amplification, sound production or motivation, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a novel device for accomplishing such results, this application being a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 34,293, filed June 21, 1948.

Another object is the provision of such a device which is simple, eflicient and durable; which does not use a filament or other medium that is apt to break or get out of order and interrupt service; and which does not require a coil or winding for magnetic flux.

In the accompanying drawings-- Figure 1 is a rear view of one form of an electrical amplifying v-alve embodying th invention, portions being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with portions broken away and shown in section, of such a valve with a modification;

Fig. 4 is a diagram of a different form of the invention for use in amplification;

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding with Fig. 1 showing a modification according to Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding with Fig. 3 with the device adapted for use as a sound producer;

Fig. 7 is a face view of a pump embodying the invention, portions being broken away and shown in section; and

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of Fig. '7.

The form of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is especially suitable for amplification, that is, for producing from feeble or relatively weak impulses in one circuit stronger impulses in another circuit wherein the oscillations in intensity are in accordance with the oscillations in the firstnamed circuit, such a device being sometimes called an electrical valve although it can be used or regarded as a repeater.

An envelope is provided comprising the sections l0 and H having flanged rims fused or cemented together, or embraced by a sealing band, as at l2, with a diaphragm [3 of suitable resilient metal clamped between said rims and thus providing a flexible partition dividing the space within the envelope into two separate chambers. The envelope sections are of glass or other dielectric material. The front section II is dished and has secured to its inner surface opposite to the diaphragm a metal plate or disk I4, and said section is filled with loose carbon granules or powder or some other resistant conducting substance l5, to provide a variable resistance or microphone the resistance of which is decreased as the diaphragm is pressed toward the plate l4.

The rear section 10 has a lower pocket or cup 16 in which is nested a recessed receptacle ll of porcelain, baked clay or other refractory insulating material, and from said pocket the section I0 is flared to the diaphragm somewhat as a horn. While the receptacle needs to be at the bottom of the envelope, and while an upright position of the diaphragm may be preferable, the diaphragm can be in an inclined position or even horizontal with the horn portion of the section l0 formed accordingly. The chamber defined by the section 10 and diaphragm is a vapor chamber, and for this purpose electrodes 18 of platinum, or other suitable metal capable of withstanding arcing, are secured in the receptacle I! to provide a spark gap therein, and are fused or otherwise secured through the wall of the pocket IS. A suitable quantity of gas carbon or lamp black, or some other appropriate substances suitable for vaporization or as an expansive thermal medium, is provided in the vapor chamber to settle down into the receptacle I! by gravity, as at 19, the lip of said receptacle and the surrounding portion of the envelope forming a hopper above the electrodes so the powder is delivered to them in order to be vaporized by the flow of electrons between the electrodes as an arc is produced. While a powder which sublimates into a vapor from a solid state is preferable, some other powdered solid or a liquid may be used if it is suitable, and the vapor chamber may be completely or only partly filled for best results.

Binding posts 20 are connected with the electrodes [8 for connecting them in an input circuit of relatively low voltage, and binding posts 2| are connected with the plate [4 and diaphragm l3 for connecting them in an output circuit of relatively high voltage. The size of the valve may vary with the voltages used.

In operation, electrical impulses in the input circuit produce arcing across the gap between the electrodes, as particles of the powder 1-9 bridge the gap in the path of electrons flowing from one electrode to the other, and this heats some of those particles in proportion to the amplitudes of the impulses, thus providing explosive puiis of gas which vibrate the diaphragm accordingly. The two chambers may be at atmospheric or higher pressure with helium, neon or other inert gas therein, or they may be at subatmospheric pressure or even vacuous, providing the normal gas pressure is balanced with the diaphragm in idle position. If a gas is used it may have a chemical aiiinity for the powder or other substance 19 providing that any chemical action occurring aids rather than interferes with the action as herein described. The heating of the gas increases the gas pressure on the near side of the diaphragm so it is forced toward the plate l4, thereby compressing the resistance medium I5 accordingly and decreasing the resistance in the output circuit 3 in proportion. This causes impulses in the inpu circuit to be repeated in the output circuit and amplified by a stronger current in the latter circuit. Any. explosive vaporization of. carbon and other substances in an electric arc is rapid, being of very brief duration, and the vapor condenses quickly by the air cooling of the envelope, although water cooling may be used, so the present device is efiicient for high frequencies of cscillas tions. The condensed particles of powder fall back into the lower portion of the envelope and keep particles in position to assure of proper are ing and vaporization. The diaphragm returns to its normal position as the gas cools or as condensation occurs. The operation is most efiicient when the powder has become heated to a normal working temperature considerably above atmospheric temperature but not high enough to melt or ruin partsof the apparatus, so the temperatu-re increase for vaporization of the powderneed not be so large as under atmospheric temperature of the powder; Thetemperaturee-f tnepowder and surrounding parts drops as the heat is radiated and-conducted in various directions and have a much longer life than an am lifying tube using a filament." The present valve see "no mag-- netic flux-so 'a winding or coil of wire is unnecesgary 3 illustrates the use of a cu sha'ped envelepesection 22, a normal-lanai;diaphragm a metalplate 2 1, and-an armular crystal as, or other compressible: solid Poi resista r-it rnater'ial, between the diaphragm and'piate, with the central portion of the diaphragmlfre'e toibe sprung into the opening orthe crystal soit is. compressed with .a leverage, .Lthus making the "crystal r'nore sensitivethan. if it bccl'lpl'd'ithe space between central portions of the'diaphragm and plate;

a The diagram. of :Fig..i.-correspontls with. one

' in the aforesaid application and shows a vaporcontrolled resistance type oivalve-whercin all the elements are enclosed within a bulb, tube or other one piece airtight dielectric envelope 2% strong enough ,to resist explosions therein, said elementsincluding the resistance medium 2'1, a pairof laterally-spaced input electrodes .28., a pair of longitudinally-spaced booster electrodes 29, and a carbon powder or other vaporizacle substance filling the space withinthe envelope, with wire connections for the *electrodes'and resistance medium. .fused or otherwise secured through. the glass-or other dielectric materiai. This device is especially suitabie for sniail sizes with/feeble impulses in the input circuit although it can be made in larger sizes also.- The medium 21 is a piezo crystal, microphone or othercornpressibleresistanc'e, and. is completely within the envelope so as to be subject to pressure all around it, insteadof only at one side as in Figs. 2 and .3. The medium or resistor 2'! is of suitable size according to its characteristicsand the pressures yto'which itis subjected,;so ;itwill function. as hereinafter described; If arbon: granules are dused for the medium 27 they are contained in a compressible case of suitable nonconducting or at least resistant substance which, owing to its resilience crthat ofthe filling, will expand of itself when pressure thereon is relieved. The medium 2? is in an output circuit including a wire 31 connected with said medium and a source of direct current 32, a Wire 33 connected with said medium, and a wire 34 connected with the source .32. The electrodes 23 are in the input circuit 35 which, as shown, has an electrical check valve 35 so the flow can be in one direction only.

or of other appropriate form, area and spacing according to the voltage of the source 32, and are connected to :the wires 33. and 3-5 to provide a booster circuit. The envelope may contain an tinertgas under atmospheric or higher pressure,

or may .be under suleatmosphericpressure or a va'cuous condition, providing the pressure internally of the. medium '2? balances the pressure externally. thereof so-said medium is compressed and expanded as arcing between the electrodes 2s produces explosive vaporization of the powder 3t. .1

In operation, wheneveran impulse in the input circuit produces anexplosive action inthe envelope, current flows through the booster circuit including the source 32, wire 31, medium 2?, one electrode 29, powder 33, and the other electrode 25, thus producing an explosive vaporization of greater force so as to augment the primary explosive force and compress the medium further and allow a greater amount of current to flow in the outputclrcui-t including the source 32?, wire 3!, medium 2'! and wire 33.- The explosive vaporization of the powder 36 by electrons passing hetween the electrodes 28, even with small force, will slightly compress the resilient resistant medium 21 so current passesthrough the booster circuit. This circuit responds instantly during the passing or the impulse whereby the flow of electrons between the electrodes 29 will produce an added-explosive evapor-izat ion of the powder 30. fhetwo explosions are'o'verlapped, which causes the medium 271' to be compressed more than with the initial amount, so more current flows in the output circuit than would be thecase without the useof'theibooste'r circuit. During the impulse the medium 27 is compressed by the aggregate of the two explosive forces and the current flowing in [the'outputclrcult'is-proportional to the aggreg'ate'pressure. exerted-on the medium 2'3.

When the mpulse passes'On, the input circuit ecomes 'dea'dandthe efiect is firstproduced between the electrodes 2'8; Theipr'ima ry explosive force comes to an end first and this relieves the pressure on the medium 2} slightly, and instantly the corresponding slight ex ansion or the medium 22? willincrease the resistance of said medium 2? in the booster circuit. This causes the reducfin the flow of current in the loo'oster' circuit and it will quickly return. to its normal condition inbeingi unahle to maintain itself, against the expansive force of the medium 2?. The

greater the primary explosive force "is the greater will be the secondary explosive force and the flow of current in the putput circuit as a result of the overlapping aiiect of both forces. Consequently theirnpulses; n the output circuit are boosted. This provision for-amplification can reduce the a numberof valves when, without the -bacte ia-ener i item". mo va ves i to be used with the output circuit of one serving as the input circuit of another, as weli known in the art. vaporization of the powder 33, though slight, gives better results than heat only does for increasing the pressure of the gas in the envelope.

In Fig. a valve of the type shown in Fig. 1 has within its receptacle 3! a pair of electrodes 38 for the input circuit of Fig. 4, and a pair of booster electrodes 33 to which the wires 33 and 34 are connected, with the booster electrodes above the others and both arranged for the differences in voltages used so as to properly vaporize the substance 49. This valve may have the resistance medium of either Fig. 2 or Fig. 3, or may be used for a free diaphragm as explained presently.

Fig. 6 depicts the device of Fig. 3 without the use of the resistance medium for amplification. Between the envelope section i! and aring 42 secured to the rim thereof is a resilient metal diaphragm 43 which is free to produce sound waves in the atmosphere as the influenced medium, so the device can be used as a telephone receiver, loudspeaker or other sound producer. With this form of device the diaphragm 23 constitutes a portion of the envelope or chamber and an inert or other suitable gas of atmospheric pressure needs to be used in the envelope. Thus this sound producer needs no magnetic coil or winding and can be made as powerful as desired when of appropriate size.

Figs. '7 and 8 illustrate the invention as embodied in a fluid pump, so air or other fluid can be moved or motivated in a conductor therefor. This device will serve as an actuator or prime mover. A casing or envelope comprises traylike sections 44 and an annular intermediate section 45, said sections having flanges secured together in any suitable manner, detachably if desired, with a diaphragm secured between each section 44'. and the section 45, thus providing a vapor chamber between the sections 44 and diaphragms containing an inert gas and a fluid chamber between the diaphragms. The sections 44 have a pocket 41 containing a receptacle 48 of refractory insulating material provided with electrodes 49. The casing may be conveniently made of metal and the interior surfaces may be enameled or otherwise coated with insulating material as needed or desirable. The diaphragms may also be treated likewise although the insulation needs to be flexible. The receptacle 48 has a hopper-like cavity for the spark gap between the electrodes, and has spaced partitions 5D in said cavity to provide a vapor passage leading upwardly from the spark gap.

The fluid chamber has provision for the flow of air or other fluid into and out of it so the fluid can be impelled for a useful purpose. As

shown the section has a fluid inlet 5| for an inflow pipe or other conductor 52, with a check valve 53 for the inlet to prevent reverse flow, and said casing section has a fluid outlet 54 for an outflow pipe or other conductor 55, with a check valve 56 for the outlet to prevent reverse flow. As shown the check valves are flap valves.

In order to provide for automatic operation, a pair of electrical contacts 51 are mounted in a block of insulation 58 to be bridged by a plate or bar 59 secured to the diaphragm complementing the casing section 44 to which the block 58 is secured. The heating and possible vaporization of the carbon powder or other substance in increasing the gas pressure and forcing the diaphragms toward one another, against the pressure of a coiled spring 6| between them, opens the circuit of the electrodes with one of them connected, as by a wire 62, with one of the contacts. Thus, whenever the diaphragms are in or return to idle position, with the spring 6! assuring pressure of the bridge or switch 59 against the contacts 5?, so that current flows through the circuit, an arc is produced between the electrodes and the heating or explosive vaporization of some of the powder will force the diaphragrns toward one another. This expels fluid from the fluid chamber through the outlet 54 and opens the circuit at the contacts 57. The vapor is quickly cooled or condensed by air or water cooling of the casing, so fluid is drawn into the fluid chamber through the inlet 5| as the diaphragms are returned by the contraction of the vapor aided by the spring 6!, and as soon as the bridge 59 is returned to the contacts another explosive action occurs and the operation is repeated. This action will be rapid as long as the casing is cooled sufliciently, and the operating temperature of the pump should not be much higher and may even be less than the temperature of an electric motor of similar power. The passage between the partitions 59 enables the vapor to pass upwardly from the spark gap so as to actuate the diaphragms powder moves under the partitions for the next arcing action. ihis pump requires no wire winding or coil and no iron or other magnetic metal and even with a turbine operated by air or other fluid impelled by the pump the structure can be lighter in weight than an electric motor of the same power. Such a coupling of a turbine with the pump may be especially suitable when lightness in weight is desirable, as for automobiles and other vehicles.

Various other modifications can be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical impulse device comprising an envelope containing an inert gas, a loose condensed vaporizable substance therein, a pair of electrodes in said envelope providing a spark gap so arranged as to heat at least some of said substance by the flow of electrons across said gap, and an impulse-transmitting medium arranged to be affected by gas pressure in said envelope.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the impulse-transmitting medium is a diaphragm arranged to be flexed by said gas pressure.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said medium is compressible and arranged within the envelope to be compressed by said gas pressure.

4. A device according to claim 1 including a pump operated by said medium.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said medium is a fluid-conducting chamber having a diaphragm arranged to be flexed by said gas pressure.

MONROE E. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ruttenberg Aug. 5, 1930 Number 

